As Toronto braces for its first significant snowfall of the season, after more than a week of below-average temperatures, Slate magazine examines the so-called “wind chill” factor and shatters more myths than weather records.
“If it were 35 degrees outside with a wind chill of 25, you might think you're in danger of getting frostbite. But your skin can freeze only if the air temperature is below freezing. At a real temperature of 35 degrees, you'll never get frostbite no matter how long you stand outside. And despite a popular misconception, a minus-32 wind chill can't freeze our pipes or car radiators, either.” [temperatures in Fahrenheit for a USA audience]
Slate also clarifies that a Canadian/American partnership that recalculated wind-chill factors in 2000 used as its model a portly, 153 cm tall individual taking a walk in the dark of night while ignoring such mitigating factors as solar warming.
Good advice for a cold winter day.
“If it were 35 degrees outside with a wind chill of 25, you might think you're in danger of getting frostbite. But your skin can freeze only if the air temperature is below freezing. At a real temperature of 35 degrees, you'll never get frostbite no matter how long you stand outside. And despite a popular misconception, a minus-32 wind chill can't freeze our pipes or car radiators, either.” [temperatures in Fahrenheit for a USA audience]
Slate also clarifies that a Canadian/American partnership that recalculated wind-chill factors in 2000 used as its model a portly, 153 cm tall individual taking a walk in the dark of night while ignoring such mitigating factors as solar warming.
Good advice for a cold winter day.
